Spiced green lentil ragoût - Good Food Middle East

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 large red onions (450g/1lb) finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, crushed and finely chopped
• 1 mild red chilli, seeded and finely chopped
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 1 whole star anise
• 4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed (retaining the black seeds inside)
• 250g Puy lentils, rinsed
• about 700ml/1¼ pints hot chicken stock or vegetable stock
• 1 large tomato
• a large handful of fresh coriander leaves, chopped
• a large handful of fresh parsley leaves, chopped